Means for recording and reproducing lengthy speeches, compositions, and the like.



I. E. THORMEYBR. MEANS FOR RECORDING AND RBPRODUGING LENGTHY SPEECHES, COMPOSITIONS, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 22, 1906. 1,063,085. Patented May 27, 1913.

.LBIHEETE-BHEBT 1. v

, Inv entor. 070W? am p J4,

Witnesses.

P. E. THORMBYBR. HEARS FOB BEOOBDIHG AND BEPRODUOING LENGTHY SPEECHES, COMPOSITIONS, AND THE LII KE.

A PPLIOATION FILED OUT. 22, 1906.

Patented May 27, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I F. E. THORMEYER. IEANSPOB RECORDING AND BEPBODUGING LENGTHY SPEECHES, GOMPOSIT10NS,AND THE LIKE.

Inventor.

B. THORMEYER. MEANS FOR RECORDING AND REPRODUOING LENGTHY SPEECHES, COMPOSITIONS, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION IILIJD OUT. 22, 1906.

Patented May 27, 1913.

4 SEEETFSEEET 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT onnioa.

FRANZ EWALD .THORMEYEB, OF HAMBURG, GERMANY.

.MEANS FOR RECORDING 'AIN'D REPRODUCING LENGTHY SPEECHES, COMPOSITIONS,

' AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27, 1913.

Application filed October 22, 1906. Serial No. 340,067.

To all whom it may c0ncem:

Be it known that I, FRANZ EWALD THQR- MEYER, a citizen of Hamburg, in the German Empire, have invented a new and useful Means for Recording and Reproducing Lengthy Speeches, Compositions, and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

T his invention relates to means for recording and reproducing lengthy speeches, music and the like by the aid of two/or moresound reproducing machines.

The object of the invention is to provide means for starting the several instruments one after the other, the measure of motion of the apparatus working being transferred to a regulating device, which is set in motion together with the working apparatus and serves to determine the starting ofthe second apparatus, when therecord on the first or working-apparatus has come to its end.

In the accompanying drawings similar letters refer to similar parts in the various figures.

Figure 1 is an elevation of an apparatus embodying one form of my invention. Fig.

2 is a diagrammatic plan of two instruments in combination with two regulating devices. Figs. 3 and 3 are modifications in diagrammatic side and end elevation for releasing the regulating device. Fig. 4 is a modification of an'electric shunt-system employed in connection with the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a plan View of a modified form of apparatus in which both instruments are driven by the same driving mechanism. Fig. 6 is an elevation of another Inodification operating in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a modification of the clutch at the right hand side of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatical plan of an apparatus provided with. two series of instruments coupled one after the other tov a single driving means. Fig. 9. is a diagrammatic view of mechanism for registering the rates of movements of the device shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a section and Fig. 11, an elevation of a modification of the registering mechanism shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is an elevation and Fig. 13 a plan of means .for determining the starting movement of a record section.

which may be used for either recording or of abearing plate or mandrel a rotated by any known means, on which a disk 6 carrying the record or phonic line is placed, so

that this record-carrier rotates with the bearing plate a. The latter is provided with a cam c, which preferably is made adjustable and in the path of which there is an anchor d, which is acted upon by a spring d and which coacts with teeth f of a regulating or tripping disk it, driven by any suitable means for instance a spiral-spring 9!. At each revolution of the bearing plate a the anchor (Z is tripped by the camfc, thus'allowing the regulating disk It to rotate in the direction of the arrow for one tooth f. The disk it, which is preferablyv made .of non-sounding material, is provided with an annular. upright flange c, having an opening In at one-place. Anelectrical contact m, which is acted upon by a spring Z has a hooked end n, hooking over the flange 2'. When the corresponding instrument is working the hooked end n bears against the inner surface of the flange 2' until the opening 7:: reaches the hook, whereupon the latter is released and the contact an is forced for.-

ward by the spring Zto make contact be-,

tween contact-pieces 0 and 0 of an electric circuit.

Before the instrument I is started the bearing plate a is held against rotation by a stud q, arranged on the rim of the plate and bearing against an arm r, which forms the armature of an el'ectro-magnet s.

For placing the stylus-at the proper place on the record a special spring pressed hand or pointer t is arranged on a bracket it next to the bearing platev a and adapted to bear against the.rim of the disk 5 by a shoulder 11. The front end of the hand t reaches as far as that convolution ofthe phonic line on which the stylus is to be placed. When this done the hand t is withdrawn and held in this position by the spring a. When the instrument is to be set in motion all that is necessary to do is to draw the arm raway from the electro-magnet, so as to allow the stud q to pass.

In order to ascertain the moment the ina strument II is to be started the cam 0 is' made adjustable. For this purpose there is a series of holes 0 arranged in a circle near the rim of the bearing plate a, say 60, into either of which the cam 0 may be placed. If for example on the disk record carrier Z) a section of a speech is to be reproduced that extends over 135% convolutions of the spiral phonic line and 5*} convolutions are to move idle, the plate a must rotate for 141 revolutions before the second instrument should allow a sound to be heard. As will be clearly understood, every motor requires some time before it attains its normal speed, therefore theinstrument II should be started before the said 141 revolutions of the instrument I are completed and the phonic line of the instrument II must have a foreline corresponding to the length. of time, which is necessary to attain the normal speed. If this length of time corresponds say with a movement of Si revolutions, the instrument II must be started when the first instrument has made 14'1'811-:132; revolutions. is done in the following manner: The cam 0 is placed on the rim of bearing plate a, the' holes 0 of which are numbered, in the 15th hole from the hole standing opposite the anchor point, in the starting position, while the regulating disk h is given such a position, that the opening is at a distance away from the contact-piece m corresponding with 133 teeth. In this position the cam 0 will contact with the anchor (2, when the bearing plate has made 1} revolution, so as to release the same and to allow the disk It to rotate the distance of one tooth by aid of'the spring q. On each following revolution of the bearing plate a the cam will again trip the anchor d and allow the disk. It to rotate the distance of another tooth until the 182-],- revolutions of the bearing plate a are completed and the opening is presents itself to the hook n of the contact piece m. The latter closes the circuit and an electro-magnet 20 included in the circuit is energized. The

electro-magnet is placed opposite an armature 1', which corresponds to the armature of 1' 0f the instrument I. Thus the armature r is withdrawn from the stud g of the bearing plate a forming part of the instrument II and allows the latter to be set in motion, which will begin its play after a length of time corresponding to 8%: revolutions, that is at the same time the first instrument ceases to sound. For stopping-the latter, there is provided another pair of contact-pieces 0 0*,between which the contact-piece m may project to close a circuit in which the electro-magnet s is included. The contact-piece m is constructed similar to the contact-piece m. Thus when the opening 71; is movedto the hooked end of the contact m the latter is moved in between the contact pieces 0 0 and the circuit is closed, so that the electro- The setting" of the apparatus playing.

magnet s is energized and attracts the arm 1" which acts as a brake on the rim of the bearing plate a and finally stops it when the stud 9 contacts therewith. The circuitbreaker 0 m 0 may be made adjustable, so. as to make it correspond with the foreline of the next following record. In set ting the instrument II the same rules must be observed as in setting the instrument I, so that the opening k on the flange i of the instrument II comes opposite the contact-piece m when a third record carrier, in the meanwhile placed on the bearing plate a of the apparatus I, isto be set in motion, and the opening 70 comes opposite the contact-piece m when the instrument II is to be stopped.

: Every time the instrument I has come to rest the plates at and It must be set anew while the instrument II is playing and the record-carrier is replaced by one which is to follow that on the bearing plate 0, at the time being. The same is done with the instrument II when the instrument I is lVhen the instruments are driven by 9 spring-motors or the like it is of advantage to limit the tension of the spring or the like by an abutment, so as to obtain fairly equal motive power.

The record-carriers may be numbered so that the carriers bearing numbers that can be divided by 2 are placed on the bearing plate a and the rest on the plate a.

In order to make the choice of the recordcarriers easier, the bearing plates at and a may be provided with meanspf attachment that differ totally from each other. For instance, in the construction shown the plate a is provided with an arc shaped piece a: while the plate a is merely provided with two pins :1 and z. The record carriers that are to be placed on the plate a. therefore must be provided with an are shaped slot and those that are to be placed on the plate a with two small circular holes.

In order to avoid friction the tripping of the anchor escapement may be effected by electrical means as shown in Figs. 3 and 3 A spring-supported, pin 1 is arranged to project into the path of the cam r: in such a manner. that. when this cam slides over the top of the pin, the latter is pushed downward into a mercury contact-bath 2, thus closing a circuit in which an electro-magnet 3 is placed. The spring pressed anchor 03 serves as an armature and therefore is attracted when the circuit is closed. When the cam 0 has passed the pin 1, the latter is v drawn away from the contact bath by the spring 4, thus opening the circuit and allowing the spring (Z to throw the anchor over to the other side'again, arid the disk has now moved for the distance of o e tooth.

- In Fig. 4 the electric connection is in Ell.

series instead of parallel. This has the advantage of a minor consumption of current and abetter operation of the electro-magnet. In this modification the contact-piece m or m is so constructed that it is included in the circuit closed by the circuit-breaker 0,

m, 0 or 0 m 0 respectively and that this circuit is broken as soon asthe contact piece m or m is pushed in between the contactpieces 0 0 or 0", 0 respectively.

Like the regulating disks h and k the anchor may be made of nonsounding material so as to avoid noise as much as possible.

It is of advantage to provide the phonographic instruments with clutches so as to secure a decided and quick starting of the instrument. When there are only two instruments working alternatively they can be connected by suitable gearings and couplings in such a way that at the same moment one instrument is started the other is stopped. In this instance the best way is to drive bot-h instruments by only one motor, so that there can be no doubt that the instruments are always driven by the same speed or nearly so. Any kind oi" motor will do for this purpose, preferably a spring-motor or electric-motor. The em-. ployment of only one motor has besides the uniform speed also the advantage of the equal pitch of tune of the delivery. It is not necessary to crowd a certain section of the speech, or music into one single record but an interruption may be made at any place, for instance at the end of a sentence, verse or paragraph or at any other suitable moment, toallow a record-section to come to an end and to begin a new one on another carrier. The fore-line may be left out since when one instrument is thrown out of gear and the next one into gear, the latter instrument starts at once with the normal speedand there is no fear that an in terruption between the parts of the delivery takes place.

and 5 are in. mesh with the wheel 3.

Keyed to the shaft 6 of the wheel 5 is a broad pinion 7 whichgears with a wheel 8* of the same diameter as the wheel 4:. These wheels 4 and 8 rotate in opposite directions and are adapted to slide on their preferably common shaft 9 and to be coupled with either of the roll carriers 10 by means of studs 4? and 10 or 0 and 10 respectively. If desired the construction may be changed so as'to allow both roll-carriers 10 to be driven in the same direction.

Since the rolls or record carriers are In the apparatus shown in Fig. 5, two

tion of the wheels 4 and 8 is determined. Each roll carrier is provided with a worm 5 let or the like gearing with the teeth of a regulating disk 15, preferably made of nonsounding material. worm 14 creates a rotating movement of the Each revolution of the disk 15 for the distance of one'tooth. The i disk is provided with division lines (not shown) corresponding with the revolutions of the roll or record-carrier. By means of a spindle, slides' or other devices, (not shown) the disk may be thrown out of gear with the worm, when desired. There is a gap 19 or projection or the like on each disk to create a movement of a lever 18 or 18 .piv0ted on fixed stud 17, when such gapor the like presents itself to the lever, by

which means the coupling gear is changed.

In the apparatus shown the disk is brought into gear with the worm in a position, in which the lever 18 or 18 respectively, points to a number on the rim of the disk corresponding with the number of revolutions the record-carrier has to make.

When the record is played, that is when the roll carrier has run a corresponding number of revolutions, the disk has moved to such position, that the lever 18 or 18 falls through the gap 19, in between the rollcarrier 10' and the wheel 4* or 8 respec tively, the latter, by aid of its conical part 20 and on account of the weight of the lever, being moved so as to be thrown out of gear with its corresponding roll carrier 10. At the same time the opposite wheel is thrown into gear with its corresponding roll carrier, which now rotates at once with its normal speed.

No fore-line or after-line is necessary with this apparatus, when the stylus is placed on the commencement of the line or not far from this end of the line, so that the com mencement of the record proper coincides or nearly coincides with that of the phonic line. This has the advantage that the space on the roll or other record-carrier heretofore used. for a, fore-line or after-line is gained for a part of the record-line proper, sot-hat a longer section of a. speech or music, can be recorded on the carrier and the number ofrecord-c'arriers will be reduced.

When fore-lines are made use of both record carriers must partly be rotated at the same time. be so constructed that when one roll-carrier is thrown into gear the other must still keep on rotating for some time, after which it is also arrested.

The clutches therefore must i When the change of movement is to be carried out by hand, this may be done by aid of the rod 13, which in this instance may be provided with a handle. The parts 14 to 20 will in such case be omitted.

Instruments having plates as recordcarriers such-as gramophones can be driven by acommon motor in similar manner as the instruments with rolls commonly called phonographs.

In this modification shown in Fig. 6 the bevel wheel 21 gearing with the bevel wheel 22 may be'driven by any means (not shown) and the rotation of these wheelsis transferred through a train of gearings 23, 24, and 24: 25 to clutch or coupling halves and 32 arranged loosely on the shafts 26 and 26 to which are fixed the plate-carriers 27 and 27 respectively. The latter partake of the rotation as soon as their corresponding clutches are thrown into gear. On the left hand 'side of the Fig. 6 the couplinghalf 30 is connected with the shaft 26 by a pin 29 fixed'to the shaft andprojecting into a longitudinal slot 28 of the coupling shaft 30 which in a known manner can be moved longitudinally by a forked lever 31 or the like by hand or otherwise,'to gear with the coupling-half 30 orto be thrown out of gear with the same. On the right hand side 'of said figure a friction coneclutch is made use of. Jlhev gear. 25 is made integral with the. cone'32 and slidable on the shaft. 26 The; longitudinal movement can be -broughtabout by the forked lever 31 in a well known manner. The second coupling-half 33. consists, of a hollow conical member 33 integral with the plate-carrier 27 When. the coupling-half 32 which may be madeof resilient material is moved axially by'the lever 31 in an upward direction the cone 33- and, also the plate-carrier 27 will partake of its rotation. This modification has the advantage that the rotation of the plate or record-carrier resting on the c'arrier'27 will not be started suddenly with the full normal speed which sometimes makes the stylus leap out of the phonic line but owing to the friction between the parts 32 and 33 the rotation of the plate-carrier will initially be slow. However the change from the initial slow motion to the normal speed takes place so quick, that there is no perceptive 1nterrup-.

tion or disturbance in the delivery. Other kinds of clutches may be devised for the same purpose, it being ofadvantage that the parts'are resilient. This last described clutch has the additional advantage that" it creates no shaking. or trembling of the record carrier when the coupling takes place. When the clutch is of the kind in which coupling teeth of one-half coact with teeth of the second coupling-half it is of advantage to employ a great number of teeth,

so as to avoid jerks and shocks as much as possible.

In the coupling consists of two cylindrical coupling-boxes 32 and 33 in which projections 34 on the box 32 coact with i'nterdental spaces 35 on the box 33 The two boxes serve as a guide for each other, when the coupling is shifted, so that shocks and jerks are avoided. i f

If desired a greater number of record-carriers may be arranged on rotating-disk, slides or the like, which may be so moved as to successively bring the instrument in position to be coupled with the driving mechanism.

In the modification shownin Fig. 8 two horizontal rotatable disks 38 and 38 are employed, each of which is mounted with a series of phonographic rolls or record-carriers. there is a double clutch 36, the shaft of which is continuously driven by the gearing 37 from any desired source.

'1 has come to its end, clutch 36 is shifted over to the other side so as to throw the roll 2 into gear and stop the roll 1. The disk 3.8 is then rotated to bring the roll 3 into the position of the roll 1, ready to be coupled with the clutch 36 as soon as the record on roll 2 has been played to its end. During the time the disks are rotated the corresponding reproducer is raised and thereupon it is lowered onto the next roll in proper position.

Instruments having flat record carriers or disks may in a similar manner be arranged on a larger disk, or frame or slide so as to record-carriersshown in Fig. 6 may be used in multiple arrangement. Flat record-carriers may also be arranged one over the other, in such a way that their center shafts can be coupled by clutches to the main driving shaft, for allowing the divers records to be reproduced one after the other. The stylus can be taken away from the record carrier that has been played last, when the next following record is playing. Prefer,- ably the'record line of the disk has it's be- By means ofa handle or lever 39 the clutch may becouthe rim of the disk, so that the speed of themodification shown in'Fig. -7 the I Between the two disks 38 and 38 inning near the center and finishes oif near phonic line at the place where it contacts:

with the stylus is not so great in starting.

In order to prevent sounds from being heard in reproducing that might be produced by the fore-lines or after-lines, the effect or operation of the stylus, particularly the writing or cutting stylus in recording,

should be destroyed or prevented. This can be done either by preventing the diaphragm or some other part of the writing mechanism from Vibrating by holding it fast, or making it soundless or by closing the opening of the horn or the sound-box, by a flap-valve or by a device similar to the photographic shutters, or finally the recorder or reproducer may be lifted up during the time the instrument has to run idle. When the record is completed the writing mechanism can be allowed to drop on the following record-carrier, so that there is no fore-line and the record proper starts at the beginning of the phonic line or near the same.

When recording it is not absolutely necessary to make use of two instruments that are connected so as to work alternatively, but this arrangement is of special advantage in reproducing. The recording of the sections of speeches, music and the like may be carried out on one and the same instrument or ,on a number of instruments working independent from one another, as long as they are driven at the same speed or nearly so, the number of revolutions being ascertained by any means. Hereby it is of advantage to transfer the rates of movement of the phonic-line sections on a separate surface, which is made to run synchronously to the record carrier or to the instrument. This surface, which may be on a disk, such as shown in Fig. 2, or a band as shown in Fig. 9, or some other mechanism, which may be driven by the recording instrument or by. any other means, is provided with divisions for instance a circular row of teeth 1', Fig. 2, and with an initial sign for instance a gap 72 and which, when at work, will be given a second sign or mark by hand or automatically on the moment the desired part of the phonic line is finished, so that the number of revolutions can be ascertained, for instance, by counting the number of teeth f between the two signs.

In the modification'shown in Fig. 9 a band 43 of paper, celluloid or other suitable material is used, on which the rates of movement are registered. Thisband is driven by a vdrum 40 keyed to the shaft 21" of the bevel-wheel 21 described with reference to Fig. 6, and provided with teeth 41 that engage openings 42 in the band 43, to feed it along. Each rotation of the plate carrier 27 or 27 respectively corresponds to a certain length of movement of the band 43, which preferably is divided into a number of partitions 44.

A number of writing pens or styli, for instance four, viz: 46 46 46 and 46 arranged rotatively on shaft 45 are drawn against the band 43 by aid of a corresponding number of electro magnets 47, 47 47 and 47 when, these are energized, thus drawing lines on the moving band.

lever 31, which is adapted to serve as an electric switch, throws the clutch 30, 30 into gear, said lever at the same time closes a circuit in which the switch 49 contact 50 and the electro-magnet 47 a are included, inducing the stylus 46 to press against the surface 43 to draw a line representing the fore-line on the record tablet. lhe line for the fore-line is not shown in the drawing but it would be found in the direction of the line'55. The starting point and the length of such line corresponds with the commencement and length of the fore-movement of the record carrier 27 so that the number of partitions 44 crossed by the line is equal to the number of revolutions.

When the machine has attained its .normal speed the switch'49 is moved to make contact with the contact button 51 the moment the performance commences, so that the electro-magnet 47 is deenergized and the stylus 46 is raised from off the band, while the electro-magnet 47 is energized and attracts the stylus 46", which records the length of phonic line proper by the line 54 on the band. Before the first part of the performance comes to an endthe second machine is thrown into gear by the lever 31, which also is adapted to close a circuit in this case for the electro-magnet 47. The stylus 46 of the latter now records on the band 43 the length of the fore-line on the second record-tablet by the line 56.. On a convenient part of the performance for instance at the end of a sentence or the like, the lever 49 ismoved from the contact 52 to the contact 53 and at the same time the lever 49 from the contact 51 to the contact 50, whereupon the stylus 46 registers the length of the second phonic line by the line 57, while the stylus 46 registers the length of the after-line by the line 55. The latter is cut off as soon as the clutch 30, 30 is thrown out of gear and thereby the circuit is broken by the lever 31, whereupon merely the stylus 46 records the line 57. This is the position shown in the drawing. When rec ord-tabl-ets are used without fore and afterlines, the lines ,55 and 56 will be omitted. In any case the beginning and end of the phonic line proper can be made distinctly visible=on the record or record-carrier.

By the aid of the partitions 44, each of which corresponds to the length of a single coil of the *phonic line, it will be easy to determine the commencement and the end of a sectional phonic line, particularly when the partitions are subdivided by suitable division-lines 58. According to the drawing the line 56 is found to run over three and two sixth partitions; the fore line of the second phonic line therefore will run over 3 coils bf the spiral line, that is to say, the

second machine will make 3% revolutions before it commences to speak.

The determination of the number of revolutions of the machine when recording by means of only one single machine or by machines working independent from one another is carried out in a similar Way.

In the modification shown'in Figs. 10 and 11, a disk 60 is provided with a circle of division-line 61 corresponding to the units or measure of movements of the record-carrier and in front of the disk 60 a rotatable hand 62 or pointer points to the numbered division lines.

Every movement of the phonic-line is transferred to the hand 62 by means of a suitable gearing 63 and the amount of the movement of this hand 62 can be read of]? from the disk at any time. When the hand or pointer 62 makes more than one complete revolution, there may be a train of gearings' 64 or the like connected with the same to transfer the movement to a second hand or .ablethe correct combining of the record sections by-aid of the numbers ascertained in the above manner.

The marking of the beginnings and ends of the record-sections can also be carried out after recording by allowing a sign, a pointer,

a divided surface or the like to move synchronously with the record carriers in a similar manner as'described above with reference to Figs. 2, 9, l0 and 11. The beginning and end of each record-section may be read off from the surface or at the pointer, or the number of revolutions of the recordcarrier made visible by a sign er the like counted.

In reproducing the phonic line of the instrument may itself be used for determining the starting moment of the next following record section. In this case all the. operator has to do is to watch the playing of the instrument intensively and to set'the next instrument in motion b hand as soon as he hears the "last sound 0 the playing instrument. If desired the after line may beso curved that it induces a decided movement of the sound box or horn so as to trip a device'which automatically stops or starts the instrument respectively. Means of this description are'shown in Figs. 12 and13.

Loosely pivoted on the shaft 67 of each record carrier plate a is a double-armed lever.68, one end of which is bent upward so as to be adapted tobe engaged by the sound box carrier 69, while the other end is pivotally connected to a rod 70 or 71 respectively. These rods are connected to levers 72 and 73 one: of which engages with its other end a slide 74 directly, while the other is also in operative connection with this slide by the intermediary of an upright lever 75, Fig. 12. By these means one sound box carrier 69 is adapted to move the slide (4 to one side, when it approaches the center of its talking machine and the other sound box carrier 69 moves the slide to the other side when it approaches the center ofthe talking machine. This movement will be a very decided one, when the phonic line 76 inwhich the needle or stylus 78 is placed is provided with an after line 77 bent to a small circle to run toward the center with a short cut.

The slide 74 is bent at right angles on each 'end 79, which ends are adapted to enter the path of an arm 80 arranged-son any convenient rotating part of the talking machine. Thus when in the operation of one talking machine the phonic line has come to its end, the stylus and also the horn or sound box carrier 69 will be given a quick movement by the after-line 77 thereby operating the levers and rods described above to catch hold of the arm 80 of one machine and to release the .arm 80 of the other machine.

The result is that the first named machine is stopped and the second is started at the same. time.

I claim 1. The combination of a plurality of successively operative recording or reproducing 'machines and means automaticallyv controlled by the operation ofone of said machines for-starting the operation'of another of such machines.

2. The combination of a plurality of succ'essively operative recording or reproducing machines and electro-magnetic means automatically controlled by the operation of one of said machines for starting the operation of another of such machines.

3. The combination with a plurality of successivel-y operative sound recording or reproducing machines each including a rec- 0rd and a stylus, of a regulating means operated by the machine first operated for causing the operation of the after operated machine. t

4. The combination with a plurality of successively operative sound recording or reproducing' machines eachincluding a recordcarrier, of'a regulating device actuated by the movement of one record carrier to control the operation of the other record carrier.

5. The combination of a plurality of successively operative sound recording or reproducing 'machines, means automatically controlled by the operation ofone of said machines for starting the operation of another machine and means to stop the move- -ment of the machine first operated.

-6. The combination of a plurality of success vely operative sound recording or reproducing machines, means automatically controlled by the operation of one of said machines for starting the operation of another machine, means to sto the movement of the machine first operate and means operated by the machine last put in operation .to again start the operation of the machine first put in operation. 7

7. The combination of a plurality of sound recording or reproducing machines and means automatically controlled by the operation'of one of said machines for starting the operation of another machine at any predetermined time of movementof the ma chine in operation.

8. The combination with a plurality of sound recording or reproducing machines each including a record and a stylus, of a regulating means operated by the machine first operated for causing the operation of the after operated machine, and an' adjustable member on the regulating means to determine the time of operation of the after operated machine.

9. The combination with two sound recording or reproducing machines, each in; cluding a record, of means including devices adjustable with respect to the records automatically controlled by the said machines to start each other at proper times.

10. In combination, cooperating sound reproducing machines each having a stylus, and regulating mechanism actuated by that machine first set in operation and regulating the time of operation of the succeeding machine With relation to the machine first set in operation, records mounted on the machines and means to position the respective records with respect to their styli to reproduce the phonic lines in succession.

11. In combination, cooperating sound recording or reproducing machines and mechanism to alternately control the operation of said machines, said mechanism actuated by that machine first set in operation and regulating the time of operation of the succeeding machine.

12. The combination of two sound recordingor reproducing machines each comprising a motor, a stylus and a record connected up with each machine, a'magnet connected with each of said motors, an electric circuit between each machine and the magnet of the other machine, a source of electric current, means to excite the magnet of either one of the machines from said source and thereby operate the same, and automatic means on the machine first operated to excite,with electric current the magnet of the second machine and thereby operate the latter.

13. The combination of a plurality of suecessively operating sound recording or. re-

producing machines, each comprising a motor, a reproducer and a record; of electro magnetic means controlled by the operation of'the machine first operated for causing the operation of the after operated machine, 71)

substantially at the termination of the operation of the machine first operated.

14. The combination of a plurality of suecessively operative sound reproducing machines, havlng records and sound boxes, and means adapted to be operatively connected with one of the two machines and to start another machine the moment the first machine ceases to play, the sound boxes of .both machines resting on their records during the time this change in the action takes place. FRANZ EWALD THORMEYER. Witnesses CHARLES HARRY ROELKNER,

'O'rro W. -HELLMRICH. 

